CHARLES II 113

Crown. For the world at large knew nothing of
the secrets of the royal bedchamber, or of those
sessions in the House of Lords, when business
was informally debated round a comfgrtable fire
while the'King's ubiquitous spaniels romped about
the room. He was still a god to those - the mass
of the population — who, in their weakness, needed
a human symbol for the traditions, government,
prosperity, and greatness of their country. Xot
since the Restoration had men and women
welcomed the King with hearts more full of simple
affection, and considered the mystery of his office
with intenser loyalty than they did at this time.

Nevertheless, it was still necessary to regard the
feverish activity of Shaftesbury and the Whigs as a
menace to the body politic ; for, although the
passions aroused by the Popish Plot had abated, a
little thing might stir them up again. Fearing
this, Charles resolved on his own initiative to
summon a new Parliament away from London,
and writs were issued accordingly for its assem-
bling at Oxford on the sist of March.

Shaftesbury and his supporters, who had now
dared to arm themselves and, it wras rumoured,
were prepared to fight for their precious Bill if
necessary, poured into the University in a mood
of almost fanatical enthusiasm, their hats and
cufis adorned with ribbons bearing the device :